The developer leading the project to transform St Helier's waterfront, Jersey Development Company (JDC), has opened its revised proposal for community feedback as it seeks approval for a second time.
JDC stated that its updated plans, which include hundreds of new homes, address key concerns from its initial submission. The initial proposal was previously rejected by Environment Minister Deputy Jonathan Renouf, who cited inadequate affordable housing and a lack of connection between St Helier and the waterfront as primary issues.
Following the rejection, JDC reviewed the five key reasons for the planning refusal, aligning its revisions with policies in the Bridging Island Plan 2022. The initial rejection emphasised that the project left La Route de la Liberation as a “largely untamed highway,” which continued to separate the waterfront from town. The earlier plans also proposed extensive excavation for basement parking, which would generate contaminated waste without an adequate disposal solution.
At a recent briefing, JDC Chief Executive Lee Henry highlighted new features focused on improved landscaping and better connectivity between town and the waterfront. He mentioned that the proposed extension of the La Collette waste site would address waste management needs from the development.
JDC noted that three of the five points for rejection were related to broader “public policy and infrastructure” issues, now resolved by the government. In response to community feedback, the revised plans retain popular facilities like the cinema and AquaSplash swimming pool, and include improved pedestrian pathways.
Phase one of the development includes a redesigned Les Jardins de La Mer, a new children’s splash play area, and an outdoor eight-lane swimming pool suitable for water polo, with accompanying café, sauna, and changing facilities. Mr. Henry emphasised that the project must align with the Bridging Island Plan, Southwest St Helier Planning Framework, and the St Helier Urban Character Appraisal. Without government funding, the development’s residential and commercial spaces are designed to fund the necessary public infrastructure and open spaces.
JDC will continue its public outreach, inviting all islanders to participate in a survey open until December 4. An open Q&A session is scheduled for mid-November, with survey results expected in January 2025. Stakeholder engagement will follow in March 2025, with a revised planning application slated for April 2025.